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Information Updated: 3/8/2004 Later this month pool fans will get to sharpen their cues and turn up their Eric Clapton soundtracks to the Color of Money, when Pool Paradise hits the PC and Game Cube. This near final build was shaping up nicely, both in game play and various amounts of gaming options. For fans of this genre, this should easily make up for the lack of similar titles on the market today.
Visually the game looks pretty nice. Detailed tables, environments, and excellent lighting help bring the game to life. You choose from a variety of characters to play from every race and creed, but oddly enough your player will still end up looking like some local thug. It really doesn’t matter as your persona doesn’t have a personality, or even a story mode for that matter, so looks isn’t that important in the end. You begin by residing to your friendly loan shark (who is really a shark in the ocean depths) and he loans you 200 dollars to begin wagering with. With this loot you purchase cues, mini games, gadgets, and much more. You then may challenge players who range from the normal, to the bizarre, including a half-leaf/half man character. To say this is your straight shooting pool sim would be an incorrect statement. This game plays a solid game of pool, yet allows from some crazy antics that provide a relief from the normal every poolroom drama. Audio is fairly weak, with no voice-overs, decent pool atmosphere effects, and lame jukebox music. More time than not I found myself longing to put my own music in the game, but alas, no feature of any kind. Pool players don’t generally go looking for a pool game for it’s visual splendor and audio fascination anyway. What does matter most is game play and modes of play. Pool Paradise provides both. The game is strict on the rules, no slop, and no do-overs. What’s more, in the PC version I played, the mouse option worked quite well. You pick your angle, ball hit point, pull back on the mouse, and let her rip. Getting the right shot was relatively easy, especially if you’ve played the game and know the intricacies. There are plenty of modes to play including; 6 ball, 9 ball, 10 ball, 8 ball (both US and UK rules), 14 to 1, 15 ball, and some great variations like, bowlliards, killer, rotation, and switchball. When you get tired of playing pool, you can throw some darts; play skeeball, or an arcade version of Dropzone. Lacking overall in the meat department is the omitting of online play and more than 2 players at a time. Otherwise there is plenty to like about Pool Paradise. In the end, Pool Paradise does what it set out to do. Mix some real time pool action, with some over the top fun too boot. With the PC price coming in at under 10 bucks, I can’t do anything but recommend this title to any pool fan out there at the end of the month.
You arrive penniless on an idyllic South Pacific Desert Island. As it just so happens scattered around the beach and in various huts (and some hidden locations) there are a variety of Pool tables and sub games to pass the time. On the beach sheltered under the palm trees there is a practice table were you can enhance your skills and watch the waves rolling in. When you feel you are good enough you can enter the competition hut and start climbing the championship ladder. There are 11 sets of pool rules and no less than 30 very different computer opponents for you to challenge. All represented by highly detailed charismatic animated hands that gesture their feelings as the games progress. Earn cash by beating your opponent, and by having side bets on various shots in the game. The harder the opponent the more money is at stake, but the rewards are much greater. Cash can be spent on an assortment of game play aides or accessories which are available in the beach shop. There is also plenty of fun to be had in the Stunt Hut which is full of exotic shaped tables with varying physical behaviour. Being in the South Pacific, you play Pool through the day and night, and as the sun goes down, the stars gradually come up. Along with all the subtle island lighting, the waves roll in for real as various wildlife walk around! Pool Paradise takes all that is good about the game of Pool and places it in an enjoyable and realistic environment. Features - Latest Pool game from the highly successful Archer Maclean series
- 30 unique computer characters, including a special guest appearance
- Unique and highly detailed animated hands that express feelings by their ‘gestures’!
- 11 different main rule types (including 6/8/9/10 ball, 14:1 rotation, Killer and more)
- 5 modes of play: Practice, Championship, Tournament Trick-shot and additional Sub-games
- 10 different tournament ladders
- 10 different table sizes and shapes, both indoors and out on the beach
- 8 camera modes from close-in chase-cam, to static overhead
- Analogue cueing using the controller or mouse
- Play the Dropzone arcade game in the beach hut, Darts on the beach, Blast coconuts with a loose cannon or throw pool balls up a Skeeball ramp round the back of the Stunt Hut!
- Beach shop to purchase game aides or unusual items to customise your play experience
- Hidden features to be discovered
- Rewards for high achievers
- It’s not all over if you loose everything – there’s a Loan Shark to lend you more cash - or bite your head off!
- Fully animated island. Watch the waves roll in and the palm trees swaying in the breeze
- Day and night lighting cycle. As the sun sets, the moon rises
- Single load game – no more annoying waits between levels
- Specially commissioned ambient music to accompany your Pool Paradise experience
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